CLDP, in partnership with the Georgian Lawyers for Independent Profession (GLIP), hosted a two day workshop on salient topics focused on international commercial disputes for leading Georgian legal professionals. The workshop included presentations, hypothetical case studies, and examples from real practice on international sales contracts, complex international business transactions, arbitration, and an examination of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention), and INCOTERMS 2010. Over twenty Georgian attorneys had the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion with three leading attorneys from Baker & McKenzie LLP and Arnall, Golden, and Gregory LLP.  This capacity building program will create a critical mass of Georgian legal professionals who can fairly, efficiently, and effectively deal with international business transactions and competently represent companies in international commercial disputes. CLDP will continue to collaborate with GLIP on additional technical assistance programs in 2013.

Two of the US advisors also took the opportunity to speak with 35 MBA students at the Iliauni Business School at Ilia State University on the topic of US Legal Perspectives on International Business Transactions.  Students were introduced to: 1) the basics of a well-drafted international sales contract, 2) selection of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms in business contracts, and 3) international treaties which govern ADR mechanisms.